5-Year Dividend Growth Analysis of the 2011 Dow Dogs

Many investors have been craving higher yielding investments lately. The interest rate most banks now offer for cash and CDs is nearly nothing, and getting lower all the time. Additionally, short and intermediate term U.S. Treasuries aren’t much better, according to the Department of the Treasury’s daily yield curve rates. Worse yet, U.S. debt is facing downgrade fears. As a result, many investors are avoiding the bond markets and the potential depreciation there-- should we finally enter a higher rate environment-- and looking for stable large-cap equities that can fill the fixed income portion of their portfolio. There are literally thousands dividend paying equities and funds (of the mutual, closed-end and exchange traded varietals). At least a few must be terrible investments (such as those funds that have fees at or around their yield), and do keep in mind that dividends get taxed-- so it isn’t necessarily the best use... Read more